Page 64 - Book4E

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Chances are you’re in a good position to determine whether a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, or other older person you care for or about is vulnerable to, or has been victimized by, a charity scam. Here are some clues:
• Does the person get frequent calls or direct mail requesting donations? This may indicate that the person’s name has been put on a list of willing donors.
• Does the person make lots of payments to charities that you haven’t heard of?
• Is the person having trouble paying for regular expenses even though there’s been no change in income? This may indicate that too much money has gone to donations. Charitable-giving decisions should be one element of a person’s overall financial plan. If you find that the person you care for or about is a victim of fraud, carefully explain what has happened and that
he or she is not at fault. Help the person file a complaint with the appropriate authorities. By filing a complaint, you may be helping stop the fraud.
The Warnings Signs of a Charity Scam
Donors at any age should avoid any charity or fund-raiser that:
• refuses to provide written information about its identity, its mission, its costs, and how the donation will be used;
• will not provide proof that a contribution is tax deductible;
• uses a name that closely resembles that of a better-known, reputable organization;
• thanks a potential donor for a pledge that the person doesn’t remember making;
• asks a potential contributor for bank account or credit card information before the person has reviewed the solicitor’s information and agreed to contribute;
Helping Senior Consumers Avoid Fraud